Breakfast/Brunch
Bluestone Lane
With a few different locations, this Australian coffee joint serves up some delicious Avocado Toast and Coconut Quinoa Porridge. 55 Greenwich Ave. www.bluestonelaneny.com
The Butcher's Daughter
This vegetarian, dairy-free cafe has a menu full of vegetables and juices. They call themselves the "Vegetable Slaughter House". Try the Tacos Verdes at brunch: Romaine "Tortillas", Ground Tempeh, Avocado Crema, Shaved Radish, Cilantro, Salsa & Sunny Side Up Egg. 19 Kenmore St. www.thebutchersdaughter.com
Egg Shop
They've got egg platters, egg sandwiches, eggs, eggs, eggs! And it is delicious! They've got healthy options with quinoa and avocado as well as some indulgent items with black forest bacon and pulled pork carnitas. 151 Elizabeth St. www.eggshopnyc.com
Lunch
Sweet Green
In NYC, there is no shortage of salad places. But this place sets themselves apart. Sweet Green originated in Washington DC, and I have been a loyal customer since 2007. They have created a place that not only serves delicious, healthy food but that also cares about their community. I was so thrilled when they opened locations in NYC so I could get my Sweet Green fix! The salads are fantastic, but don't forget to try the Sweetflow Frozen Yogurt! Find them in Nomad, Tribeca, Nolita, Williamsburg, at Columbia U and the newest spot is on the Upper West Side! www.sweetgreen.com
By Chloe
Holy yum! Burgers, fries, sandwiches, salads- your ordinary American lunch joint, right? Well, yes! But it is all VEGAN! Everything is awesome, especially the Guac Burger. And do not miss out on the Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Dig Inn
Real, good food for everybody. Dig Inn is offering a casual, local, seasonal lunch for under $10 and you cannot beat it. Quick, delicious food that makes you feel at home. Multiple locations. www.diginn.com
Korilla
Korilla started out as a food truck (you may have seen them on Food Network's Great American Food Truck Race). They have reinvented Korean Barbecue into a Chipotle-style experience. Their steak, pork and chicken barbecue along with various types of Korean Kimchi come wrapped up in a tortilla as a burrito. There is also an option to have it as a salad or rice bowl. Be sure to try all of the incredible sauces! 23 3rd Ave. www.korillabbq.com
Beyond Sushi
Vegan Sushi. This health-conscious, modern approach to sushi takes plant-based food to the next level. Union Square, Midtown West & Chelsea Market. www.beyondsushinyc.com
DINNER
Blue hill
Chef Dan Barber is changing the way we grow, eat, and think about food. Dining at Blue Hill was one of the most extraordinary dining experiences I have ever had. This Greenwich Village spot delivers the best service I have ever had in NYC, hands down. The menu is inspired by vegetables at their absolute peak from Blue Hill Farm in upstate NY and other local neighboring farms. http://www.bluehillfarm.com/dine/new-york
ABC KITCHEN
ABC Kitchen brings you seasonal, local, farm-to-table dishes by Michelin star Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Their award winning cuisine is free of GMO's, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, and is naturally and humanely sources from local farmers. 35 E 18th St. www.abchome.com/eat/abc-kitchen/
SEAMORE'S
Chef and owner of The Meatball Shop opened Seamore's, a restaurant highlighting sustainable seafood. They only offer fish that is in season and is locally caught. They highlight the various types of in-season fish in their signature dishes, like fish tacos. 390 Broome St. www.seamores.com
ROOT N BONE
This is one of my favorite restaurants! "Top Chef" contestants Janine Booth and Jeff Mcinnis put their modern spin on classic southern dishes. Some of my favorite menu items include the Free-Range Fried Chicken Bucket with Cheddar Buckwheat Waffles and Whiskey Maple Syrup, and Grandma Daisy's Angel Biscuits. While the food may not be light, their use of high quality ingredients locally sourced from NY farms make the indulgence totally worth it! 200 E 3rd St. www.rootnbone.com
GRAMERCY TAVERN
This seasonal, fine-dining restaurant is perfect for a special occasion. Chef Michael Anthony's elegant menu highlights the best flavors of the season. The Tavern serves a more casual menu on a walk-in basis, or make a reservation for the Dining Room to try their tasting menu. 42 E 20th St. www.gramercytavern.com
Sweet Treats
Levain Bakery
Levain Bakery has the most epic cookies you will ever consume. They are gigantic mounds of cookie dough that are beautifully golden on the outside and still warm and soft on the inside. Tasting a Levain cookie is a lifetime experience. They have four flavors: Chocolate Chip Walnut, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate and Oatmeal Raisin. This may be the greatest place on earth. If you visit Levain on a weekend, be prepared to wait in line. 167 W 74th St. www.levainbakery.com
Mille Feuille
An authentic French bakery. The best croissant I have ever had. Get the Almond Croissant. You will not regret it. 2175 Broadway. www.millefeuille-nyc.com
By Chloe
Okay, I recommended By Chloe for lunch, but I might as well recommend it for every category. It is definitely worth checking our the sweets at By Chloe. After all, Chef Chloe Coscarelli won Food Network's 'Cupcake Wars' for her vegan cupcakes. All of the desserts at her restaurant are free of all animal products. Thats right- no butter, no eggs, no milk, no dairy at all! I LOVED the Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie. And the Kale Cookies and Cream Ice-cream was surprisingly fantastic. Expect a line out the door any day of the week. www.bychefchloe.com 185 Bleecker St. www.bychefchloe.com
Other Foodie Destinations
Eataly
It is worth a visit to this massive Italian marketplace where you can find every single type of pasta or dine in one of its many restaurants. Italy has a fine dining restaurant featuring meat, a casual pizza & pasta joint, a restaurant highlighting seasonal vegetables, one for fish, a beer garden, a coffee bar, a gelato stand, and the list goes on! It is an excellent place to find gifts or to pick up dinner for later. Go check it out and take a look around. I usually get lost somewhere in the Olive Oil aisles. 200 5th Ave. www.eataly.com
Chelsea Market
This indoor food hall is foodie heaven. Here, you will find interesting and creative food stands and restaurants. There are also artisan shops, such as The Filling Station where you can stock up on exotic sea salts. You may stumble upon unique bakeries, lobster rolls, tacos, vegan sushi, doughnuts, artisanal cheeses, spices, and nuts. Leave some time to wander around a bit! 75 9th Ave. www.chelseamarket.com
Brodo
Brodo is a walk up window that sells bone broth. If you find yourself near the East Village on a cold day, or if you are feeling a sickness coming on, Brodo is a MUST. They feature three core sipping broths: Organic Chicken, Grass-fed Beef with Ginger, and their signature broth, Hearth. You can also customize the flavor by selecting add-ins such as: Ginger, Garlic, Tumeric, Fermented Beet Juice, Shiitake Tea, and Bone Marrow. I was told about Brodo from a friend when I wasn't feeling well, and this bone broth was the PERFECT cure. I tried the Organic Chicken broth with Ginger and Coconut Milk. I wish I could drink this everyday. 200 1st Ave. www.brodobroth.co